The Best Superfast Recipes

No recipes are more popular than our fastest weeknight successes. Here, the best of the best, according to you.

No recipes are more popular than our fastest weeknight successes. Here, the best of the best, according to you.

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Cooking Light

October 11, 2012

1 of 20Photo: Johnny Autry

Reader Favorites

We've got a hunch as to why our Superfast recipes are so popular. They're delicious and quick—certainly a double threat. We've done a little research to find out which of our 20-minute recipes you, our readers, deemed the very best.

We'll start with showstopping Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca.

“This dish will be a regular in our household. Fancy enough for company, yet so simple to make!” —EMCULP1

Salmon Croquettes

"I love this recipe. I made it as a Saturday early dinner and got rave reviews. Will make this over and over and over!!" —TAMMYRVC

Salmon Croquettes are packed with fresh flavors from lemon juice, green onions, and red bell pepper. Easy to prepare and even more easily devoured, if the question around your house is centered on what’s for dinner, then the answer is Salmon Croquettes.

Spicy Chicken Shawarma

"My husband and I love this recipe. The spice mix is great and it was really easy to make. We will be making it again soon." —KALJ197

Tangy, yet cool Greek-style yogurt is the perfect counterpoint to spicy chicken tossed in a blend of Middle Eastern spices and sautéed to perfection. Your mouth will by watering from the moment smells begin wafting from your skillet.

Chicken-Orzo Salad with Goat Cheese

"Fabulous! I made for a 4th of July picnic and everyone raved over it. About six months later a relative of a close friend called and wanted the recipe, she had been thinking about the salad since the picnic!" —PURDUEKEL

Tangy and creamy goat cheese makes a nice partner to starchy orzo in this salad, which comes together in 10 minutes or so. If even that is more time than you have, it can be made ahead, whenever you can find the time. Mix together the dressing and all ingredients except the arugula and tomatoes, then add those just before serving.

White Pizza with Tomato and Basil

"We love this recipe and have added it to our weeknight rotation because it is so easy. I like the techinique of heating the pan in the oven first - it really does make for a crispier crust." —DMT4641

Crushed red pepper is optional in this recipe but, if you can take the heat, it will give the flavors in this pizza a kick. Heating a cookie sheet in the oven before you put the pizza on it gives you a crisper crust.

Fettuccine with Mushrooms and Hazelnuts

"Incredible flavor & texture. Simply delicious!" —PROMOGAL

Fresh pasta pairs well with a simple, barely-there sauce that will gently coat each noodle, highlighting the fresh pasta's uniquely soft, smooth texture without overwhelming it or stealing its shine. This dish makes for a satisfying meatless meal that is sure to please your taste buds.

Steak Tips with Peppered Mushroom Gravy

Briefly cooking the gravy with thyme sprigs saves the time of stripping the tiny leaves from the stem, but still gives you the herb’s woodsy flavor. Serve this rich and hearty beef mixture on a bed of egg noodles and you will find that this comforting meal is just the thing you had in mind.

Gnocchi with Shrimp, Asparagus, and Pesto

"I made this for my husband and his family last night and everyone raved about it!! It was a last minute decision to stay in so I needed something quick. This fit the bill and it was super yummy." —CHEFBACCHUS

Gnocchi—small Italian potato dumplings—are a hearty alternative to pasta. While making gnocchi from scratch could take more than an hour, premade vacuum-packed dumplings cook in a few minutes.